Attachment for violins



M. F. CONNELL Filed Dec.

Inz/eiz to k" .4 550172 eg Dec. 30, 1930.

ATTACHMENT FOR VIOLINS Patented Dec. 30, 1930 v PATENT OFFICE MARTIN r. FCONNELL, or HoLLI's oN, MASSACHUSETTS ATTACHMENT Ton vIoLINs Application filed December 4, 1928. Serial No. 323,761.-

This invention relates to attachments for violins for supporting the violin upon the players shoulder comfortably and naturally and so that the hard edges ofthe violin will not come in contact with the players clothing.

It is common for a violin player to hold the violin against-his shoulder by pressing his chin upon a chin rest provided upon the top surface of the violin and steadying the instrument with one hand. It isdifiicult to support a violin in this manner for any length of time withoutinjury to the players shoulder. It often happens that the skin upon the players shoulder becomes blistered and broken or irritated to such an extent as to cause the player discomfort. In order to overcome these difficulties the player has interposed a pad between theviolin and shoulder. However, these pads often work down upon the nerve centre below the players shoulder blade causing the player great discomfort. Furthermore, it is extremely diflicult when using such pads to support the violin so as to prevent the violin taking a lopsided position. The eftort exerted for this purpose distracts the players attention from,

his playing and often causes neuritis of the arm holding the violin.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoulder rest for a violin which will protect the players shoulder and enable the player to support the violin with ease and overcome the tendencies for the violin to assume a lopsided position and at the same time player great freedom during playassure the ing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment combining a shoulder rest and clothes protector of light weight which will effectively prevent the hard edges of the violin coming in contact with the players clothing.

The invention will be more clearly under stood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear portion of a violin embodying the attachment of the invention.

, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the attachment 'as viewed fromthe front thereof.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same. Fig. 4 is a view of the attachment looking at v the bottom thereof.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a frame embodied in the attachment.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken upon the line 66 and 77 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 8 is a plan viewof the attachment. Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practised or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is-for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended as considered in view of the prior art and the requirement thereof.

.The attachment of the invention comprises a shoulder rest 10 and a shield port-ion 11 adapted to shield an end portion of a violin. The embodiment of the attachment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a frame 14, preferably, of skeleton form including a substantially T-shaped portion 15 and a substantially rectangular portion 16 having arms'17 extending therefrom in opposite directions. The portion 16 of the frame is folded along the line a to a position substantially perpendicular to the plane of the portion 15 and is given substantially the curvature of the end of a violin, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4: and 8. 'A suitably shaped pad 18 is secured, as by, cement, to the lower surface of the frame portion15. The pad 18 is constructed of a secured thereto, as by a suitable cement. The

entire body is then covered by a finishing fabric 22, such as velvet, the front layer of which is provided with openings 28 through which the arms 17 extend. Preferably, the arms 17 are covered with leather or other protective coating so they will not injure the finish of the violin.

A conventional type of violin 25 is illustrated in Fig. 1 and includes a tail gut 26 which extends from the top surface of the violin down over. the end and is securedyto' a pin 27 fixed in the end face of the violin. A chin rest 28 is secured upon the end portion of the violin by suitable clamps 29 connected with the chin rest 28 by screws 30. The attachment of the invention is readily secured to the violin by slipping one of the arms 17 between the tail gut 26 and the end face of the violin while slipping the other arm 17 between the end face of-theviolin and one of the screws 30.

The attachment of the invention forms 2.

of a violin, and a skeleton sheet metal frame bent to provide perpendicular portions, a shield supported on one of said portions, a shoulder rest pad supported on the other of said portions having a lower transverse concave surface, and means for securing said frame to a violin.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MARTIN F. CONNELL.

unit embodying a shoulder pad which is shaped to fit firmly against the players shoulder, the convex portion 20 thereof being arranged transversely of the pad so as to fit over the players shoulder blade while the thicker outer edges. rest in. hollows on opposite sides thereof. Thus, the shoulder rest provides a rigid support for the violin so as to overcome any tendency of the violin to assume a lopsided position. As a result it is possible for the player to support the violin upon his shoulder with ease by merely pressing with hisv chin against the chin rest and without the additional support of one of his .arms thereby aifording greater freedom during playing. The shield portion 11 of the attachment effectively protects the players clothing by preventing the tail gut pin 27' and the screws 30 or other hard edges of the violin coming in contact with the players clothing. The shoulder rest, preferably, is contracted relatively narrow so as not to extend tofthe vibrating portion of the violin to interfere with the tone of the instrument.

Whatl claim is: V Y

1. An attachment for a violin comprising a shoulderrest and a shield for an end face of the violin, a skeleton sheet metal frame bent to provide;perpendicular portions for sup porting respectively said shield and shoulder rest, and means for securing said frame to a violin.

2.. An attachment for a violin comprising a shoulder rest and ashield for an end face .ofa violin, and a skeleton sheet metal frame bent to provide perpendicular portionsfor supporting respectively said shield and shoulder rest, the shield supporting portion .of said frame having. arms." extending 1nwardly in substantially its own planejfor. securing-said frame toa violin.

3. An attachment for, a violin comprising ashoulder. rest, and a. shield. for. an; end, face 

